Friday

Yesterday, with Q in full-day preschool and us with (at last) some real time on our hands, we decided to celebrate just a bit by treating ourselves to (long neglected) haircuts. I got mine chopped at a local arts district salon called Rebelle - all pink and rock-baroque inside.

(I got quite a lot chopped off my hair - but will have to post pictures of the result at a later date!)

We stopped for tea and coffee at a nearby coffee shop before I treated Mike to his belated anniversary gift - a cut and straight-shave at the new men's salon, Proper.

I don't know which one of us was more excited about visiting Proper for the first time, but it was probably me, because I adore the place!

It pushes every single one of my design buttons.

I would like to shake the hand of the person that designed Proper. No detail has been ignored, and everything is just perfection.

A treatment at Proper begins with a shot of Jameson's Irish Whiskey.

If you're still thirsty, Pabst Blue Ribbon is on offer while you're under the blade.

Lounge feet.

How much do I love the fact that they mix in vintage '60s Playboys with copies of GQ in the waiting area? A lot.

I love every detail from the whiskey display over the front door to the über-cool logo T-shirts, the bleached deer-skull hat racks, the kitschy painting of the creature from the black lagoon over the wash station, and the custom-designed wallpaper.

Who doesn't need a tin of mustache elixir?

My husband is working up to a clean shave after a couple of years of wearing a beard. In the interim, he's decided to rock 70's biker chops and a fu manchu, just for kicks.

Prepping for the straight razor.

Mid-shave, I dashed out to pick up Q from school, so she could watch Papa get his haircut. She got a sucker out of the bargain as well - always a plus!